So you may be wondering why I bothered to read the third book called Acceptance. I’d like to say I’m a completest, but, if I’m being honest, I just wanted some kind of answers regarding Area X and the Southern Reach.

I’ve got some good news–Acceptance proved more enjoyable than its predecessors.

Everything about Acceptance was superior to the first two installments. I particularly found the narrative style effective. VanderMeer elects to alternate chapters between Ghost Bird, the Director, the Lighthouse Keeper, and Control. By doing this, we are given access to the thoughts of characters we, other than Control, haven’t really before experienced. The fact that we were just as ignorant as the characters in the first two books regarding the events plaguing them frustrated me to no end. With Acceptance, we finally experience revelation … sort of. More on that in a moment.

Now, I’m the first to admit that the main reason I liked Acceptance is because it finally gave me some insight into Ghost Bird, Area X, Southern Reach, the Lighthouse Keeper, and the Director. Trudging through the first two books should not be a prerequisite to liking the third, however, and I realize this position is a little contradictory. By the way, the irony of the third book’s title did not escape me.

But, the truth is the truth. If you read Annihilation and Authority, I guarantee you’ll find Acceptance worth your while. Be prepared, though. While it revealed enough to satisfy me, you won’t get much in the way of hard and fast answers. VanderMeer sets the stage well enough to let your own imagination fill in the gaps, but there is no concrete conclusion to The Southern Reach Trilogy.

I fully accept that.

(Did you enjoy this article? Check out Scott William Foley’s Dr. Nekros e-book series HERE)

I took my ten-year-old daughter to the Bloomington, Illinois, Barnes and Noble today so that she could use her hard-earned money to buy a Hermione Granger replica wand. I live in Bloomington-Normal and actually did a signing at this store recently, so I thought I’d take a look in the science fiction section just to … you know.

First all, imagine my joy when I saw several copies of Andropiasitting on my local Barnes and Noble’s bookshelf. That was pretty cool.

Then, to make it even better, I saw one of my literary heroes–Neil Gaiman–on the shelf below me. To see my book in proximity to his work … it gave me chills.

Of course, while Neil Gaiman seems incredibly polite and genuinely kind, I’m sure his excitement regarding this occasion would not match mine. I’m definitely getting the better deal out of all this.

Take a look at the picture below. Cool, right?

By the way, my daughter was not impressed by any of this.

Ah, to be humbled.

(Did you enjoy this article? Check out Scott William Foley’s Dr. Nekros e-book series HERE)

So even though I didn’t like the first book, the general premise and the movie itself tempted me to give the second literary installment a try.

I recently finished Authority, the sequel to Annihilation, and it left me rather apathetic. The author, Jeff Vandermeer, elected to change course from the first book and focus instead on the Southern Reach facility, the entity responsible for sending the team into Area X from the first book. Our main character is no longer the biologist who narrated Annihilation. Instead, Vandermeer is using a third-person narrator with the story squarely settled on “Control,” the new head of Southern Reach. Control (John Rodriquez) moves throughout the book utterly confused. Like the reader, he has no idea what is going on in Area X, nor does he understand the full scope and history of Southern Reach.

In the beginning of the book, I accepted Control’s chaotic immersion into Southern Reach. I assumed that he would soon solve some of the enigmatic entity’s mysteries. Instead, Vandermeer chose to pile even more mystery upon both Control and the reader. Though some revelations arrive, both Control and the audience are left feeling even less informed than they did before!

I basically plodded through most of this book. The ending intensified, but for the most part, I never fully invested in neither the story nor Control.

However, I’ve come this far, so guess what I’m reading now? Yes, Acceptance, the third part of the Southern Reach Trilogy. Like Control, I seemingly have to know Area X and Southern Reach’s secrets, no matter what level of discomfort occurs during the process of discovery.

I have a feeling, though, that the third book will ultimately disclose nothing. That appears to be the pattern. I’ll let you know.

(Did you enjoy this review? Check out Scott William Foley’s short stories HERE!)

Stuck inside on this snowy day? Let me help with that! I would love it if you downloaded my e-book series entitled Dr. Nekros. Each installment is only ninety-nine cents. That’s almost five hundred pages of writing for less than three dollars! It’s available on both the Nook and the Kindle–remember, these are free apps on your phone. Trust me, at first you’ll love to hate the good doctor, but in the end, you’ll hate to love him.

Don’t have time for an entire book? No worries–I understand. I also have many, many short stories available for your Nook and Kindle as well. Though I write in a variety of genres, they all focus on that which we all have in common–our humanity. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, some will make you think, and others will make you hide under the covers. I promise you, though, each will entertain. They are also only ninety-nine cents each.

Our local Barnes and Noble invited me to conduct a book reading tomorrow, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s truly an honor to be recognized by my community.

That being said, I want to make sure I satisfy everyone’s expectations tomorrow. I’ve gotten so much positive feedback about the event that I honestly hope to leave everyone with a great feeling.

Typically, most book readings include a chapter reading (duh!) followed by a question and answer session. Finally, the author sits at a table and (hopefully) signs a few books that people have decided to purchase. That’s my plan as well because it seems to work.

However, I’d love to shake things up a bit.

I’ve given a few readings in my day, and I’ve also attended several by other authors. It’s always a fine line. Keep your reading and Q&A session too brief and you don’t capture people’s interest. Go on for too long and you bore people to death, which prompts their immediate retreat.

As a teacher, I’m accustomed to reading facial expressions. I can tell when I’ve got an engaged audience, and I know when I’m losing everyone. Typically, I react accordingly.

That being said, I’d like to know what you would like to experience while attending tomorrow’s reading. Is there anything in particular you would like to see or hear from an author? Just like with my classroom lessons, I’m always looking for ways to spice things up.

So sound off! Be heard! I would very much appreciate your thoughts in the comment section below …

I can’t wait to see you tomorrow! Remember, the event is Sunday, October 21st, at 2:00 p.m. I’ll be there until 4:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble will have plenty of copies available of my science fiction novel, Andropia. See you soon!

A few days ago I struggled to make a dent in a book that will remain unnamed. As it happens, a student in my class raved about an old Stephen King book he’d just finished — Pet Sematary.

Like you, I know about his classic novel, Pet Sematary. I seen bits and pieces of the old movie on TV throughout the years. However, I’ve never actually read the thing. If you’ve visited this site for awhile, you know I’m a Stephen King fan. His nonfiction is always sublime. I could read his thoughts on all manner of subjects day and night. He’s one of the few contemporary writers who strikes me as both present and wise.

His fiction, though, it a little hit or miss with me. I’m not an admirer of his work past the year 2000 (with the exception of his Dark Tower books). Much of it strikes me as inflated and meandering.

The classics, though? You know it. For the most part, those babies are tight, fast, and going places. Unfortunately, I haven’t read as many of his classic titles as I would like.

So anyway, as I listened to a student rave about Pet Sematary, I thought to myself, “Yeah, let’s do this! It’s October; a trailer for the new film adaptation recently released; I’m not enjoying the book I’m currently reading — this is perfect timing!”

I literally put the book down that I was not digging and picked up Pet Sematary.

Ah, as soon as I started reading, it felt like I’d just reunited with an old friend.

I know the Pet Sematary years were a rough patch for King. He’s very much on record with his addiction struggles. I’ll be darned, though, if he wasn’t at his peak during those tumultuous days. I’m in no way suggesting he should go back under the influence — absolutely not. His style and voice during that time, though, were just so easy to get lost in, and remains so to this very day. (That voice is still present in his nonfiction, by the way.)

Pet Sematary, like his other works from that era, connect with me in a way his current work does not. I’m having an absolute ball reading it. King’s appeal is obvious — there’s a reason he’s been a best selling author for almost fifty years!

It’s wonderful to pick up a book, start reading, and feel instant comfort.

(Did you enjoy this article? Check out Scott William Foley’s short stories HERE!)